I shot Nikon exclusively for 30 years - starting with an F3 and ending with D4s. While still shooting D4s, I picked up X100t for same reason you did (something small to keep in my briefcase and use every now and then). I instantly fell in love and found that "every now and then" was becoming more like "most of the time." Ultimately, I picked up an x-pro2 and some Fuji lenses and upgraded to X100f when it was released. About a year ago, I sold most of my Nikon gear and now exclusively shoot Fuji. The x100 line is Fuji's gateway drug for many of us! It's a masterpiece.
I shoot the XT2 and will upgrade to XT3...I know there are more advanced cameras but I just love the manual feel....never want to use a computer in the field.
I have just traded in my Nikon DF and most of the lenses, apart from those on my F3 and F4, and acquired an new X100F (and change), excited to start making images again, and to relieving the pain in my back ;) Helpful review thank you
I get why you love this camera but is it a good idea to give up your DSLR and zoom lenses completely? You may find yourself needing a longer focal length some day. This camera is good to have alongside a DSLR for those times when you want to go casual.
The original x100 was not only my gateway drug into the Fuji X system, but even brought me back into photography altogether, which I had given up on, because of so many reasons you mentioned.
There are too many you tube channels reviewing stuff with little or no personal experience of using the camera they are reviewing. Your comprehensive "user reviews" are brilliant. Make no mistake you are ahead of the pack with these hands on reviews, thank you
I initially bought a used X100T off eBay as I was going on holiday outside the EU and my camera insurance didn't cover my gear outside the EU. I spent a month abroad with only the X100T and absolutely fell in love with it. I then bought the X100F when it was released. I have 3 professional Canon DSLR bodies and have owned several more over the years, and I can honestly say that of all the camera's I've used in 24 years of photography that the X100F is my favourite ever camera.
I've been watching Fuji reviews all month and this was the first one that hinted at the camera magic that people can't seem to get away. Thank you for keeping it real.
I was in the store the other day trying the x100F, and fell in love instantly. And I've been a Canon man for 10 years. I'm glad I found your channel. Lovely review, right to the point, no bullshit. You've earned a new subscriber :)
This is one of the best reviews of this camera. It is certainly the most useful in terms of information about the ins and outs of it and how it works. Thanks for the great review!
I'm thinking of getting the x100f and have been watching numerous videos on YT. I must say, yours is without a shadow of a doubt, the BEST video on this camera that I've watched. You covered everything. I'm almost certain I'm going to get it on account of your warm, we'll spoken video. Thank you so much. Am a new fan. Subscribed. Hope you're well and staying safe.
Great Video, thanks. I own the X100F and have since it was first made available to the public, here in Canada. What I can say is that it provides for a very liberating experience, and forces you to actually see what it is you are capturing. No worrying about what lens to have on the body, or where to ‘zoom’ to. there is a wonderful intimacy in it’s use that frees you to enjoy what you are doing. Quality of images are fantastic, as is the customization of the controls. I would strongly recommend purchasing an aftermarket lens hood and filter, that also permits you to use a regular squeeze type lens cap. The Fuji supplied ‘slip-on’ lens cover is a real disappointment, given the rest of the camera. Another useful add on is a screw in concave shutter release button that just cradles your finger tip and finishes the shooting experience. I come from a background in shooting medium format film, 35mm film and then digital. I’ve now gone fully mirrorless with a Panasonic Lumix system with lenses, as well as the Fuji X100 and another smaller Fuji mirrorless (X10). Believe me, I am not looking back. No regrets about quality, or size, or cost or weight. Try the X100F and it’s sensible placement of camera controls, and you will be amazingly pleased and happy about your purchase.
I absolutely love my X100F, I was lucky enough to receive it as a 50th birthday gift last September and I can honestly say that I have carried it every single day since. It is hands down the best camera experience I have had. If you are on the fence I would urge you to go out and get it. Great review, totally concur with every word. Really looking forward to more in the series.
Welcome to "Fuji Magic". I was shooting with a Nikon D800E. I took the Nikon and the Fuji XT-1 on a workshop. I started the workshop shooting with the Nikon because I was familiar with it. Halfway through, I picked up the Fuji and didn't put it back down. Full frame and 36MP be damned! I realized I was a different photographer with the Fuji. I kept the Nikon gear for a while, until my internal muse said it was time to set the artist in me free.
Thanks. Great overview! I’m moving from my UA-cam right now to my Firefox to order one of these. I’m am tired, if not exhausted, from pieces of electronics and complicated softwares that have made me a lesser photographer and more of a computer geek. I’m moving to this camera plus a handful of iPad apps and that’s it. I have realized that simpler is better, better photography and this seems to be the camera for me. Thanks for hitting the spot with this review. Cheers.
Purchased a Fuji X100S a few years ago and love it. Something you can’t do with your DSLR - use the built -in ND filter, wide aperture and flash, it has a leaf shutter so it can synch at very fast shutter speed - produces great images with minimal DoF and separation from background.
It's that leaf shutter which keeps me itching to get one to play with - balancing daylight with simple speedlights, but without the need for power-robbing HSS!
You sound so passionate talking about this camera. I've been looking at reviews because I am interested in making this my personal use camera as well and I think your review just pushed it over the edge for me. Definitely want to buy this now :).
Soooo glad you said you will be doing additional videos on this camera. It is my first camera and I'm looking forward to learning how to use it; I find it easier to learn something new with some guidance! I would love for you to make a video covering "basic" settings so a beginner like me has somewhere to start.
I have been using a X100 since 2012 and have put much thought into upgrading to the X100F. This video has convinced me to take the plunge, can’t wait for my local dealer to open.
Thank you for this excellent review! You got me over the edge and I finally decided to order a used X100F with just above 1000 exposures taken for around 650 $ here in Sweden. I've for some time kept looking for a more lightweight companion on my mountain hikes, than my Canon EOS 6D with all that glass weight of my L-lenses. I'm old enough to have spent thousands of hours in the dark room while using my 35mm film Pentax equipment in my youth. I'm pretty confident I will love the Fuji X100F with its old school design! Great review!
Hi - this a great post and it is refreshing to hear someone speak about 'using' the camera. Using a Fujifim camera is all about the experience - using my X-T2, I can go all day and never go into the menus. Its all dials, aperture, shutter speed, ISO - look, decide, adjust, shoot - and you can go with the confidence that your images are going to be sharp and deep and clear. And I can't wait to get an X100F. I love the rangefinder format. Great post. Thank you.
The X-100 series are amazing. I had the S version and I just purchased the F version. If someone ask me to explain why I chose the X-100F, I would direct them to this video. Like me, SnapChick leans more to the purist side of camera functionality. The option of having direct control of the camera like the old days but also having the latest technology that truly makes the camera a more useful creative tool. Her explanation of this camera was truly one of a person of knowledge and enthusiasm. Her presentation could not be bettered. Thanks.
Thanks for that very informative video. I stumbled on this almost 12 months later whilst trying to decide what "second" camera to buy to compliment my much loved Fuji XT3. I was wavering between the XT20 and the newly released XT30 which is supposed to be the baby brother to the XT3. However, your description of the X100F has shaken everything up somewhat!! I was sold by the camera features and by the very articulate way you put this all across.......my only issue that still bothers me is having just a 35mm equivalent lens. I will be using the 2nd camera as a grab and go just to use as and when the opportunity arises. I am now in a quandry!!! I think I will watch your other more in depth reviews on this camera. Many thanks again, you have a new subscriber!!
My xe-1 is glued to this cheap adapted manual cctv 25mm f1.4, i used it for my everyday fun/street/architecture photos. It's really great. I I think that feeling is similar when i tried the x100f. The difference is just the autofocus motor.. but i like manual focus, it slows me down, makes me think more before shoot
I got one of these and actually got the black version. Your review is very nice when compared with all the other reviews on this X100F, because you talk about the controls and what you are comfortable with and you explain why. Over the years I have moved away from my old film habits of prioritizing the shutter speed, being concerned with shake. While this doesn't have any sort of steady mechanism, I must remember that the ISO controls which allow pushing the sensor far more than saying pushing Tri-X, for example, while still getting an image with "lots of silver" still on the, "negative." I edit only with simple editing, at least up to this point. Managing the depth of focus and/or the depth of field has become more important to me in controlling the image and I think you made the point so that when I take my camera out and shoot with it the firs time, I already know where to start from: aperture priority. Thanks for this sort of organic review of this camera. AF
I loved my x100s, I sold it to get the A7r2 and sony lenses....after a while I got the x-t2 and it has some beautiful lenses. There is something with Fuji pictures and controls that is just so right, hard to describe. I love the classic chrome jpg, no editing needed.
Great review. As someone who started off my photography journey shooting slide film, Kodachrome 64, Fuji has reignited my passion for photography in a way that no other digital camera has done. Having a fixed focal length camera has been very liberating for me in how I approach photographing a subject. This camera is truly a gem.
A really nice, thoughtful review and your excitement over the camera is making me feel kinda excited all over again over my X100F. First time I've seen one of your videos I think, I like the cut of your jib. So, questions and thoughts... It'd be cool to hear you talk about the film simulations, a round-up as to their looks, what situations you find yourself pairing them with, which one you find yourself reaching for most... A piece on the built in flash, how it works for a bit of fill-light in outdoor portraits, or for grungy 1980's style punk portraits. Myself I use mine quite often on the dance floor at punk, rock and indie clubs! Also a bit on the ridiculously high sync speed you get with that oh-so-silent leaf shutter. Finally the creative benefits of sticking to one focal length. I actually have the wide angle converter on mine most of time when out and about, as I like the Garry Winogrand 28mm kind of focal length view, especially with black and white. Are there any photographers who stick to a single focal length who you love? Annie Liebowitz is a great believer in 35mm focal lengths, Alex Webb swears by it. It's quite often the choice for Magnum documentary photographers. Do you feel there's an added strength in having that one unifying element in a body of work? I know it's not the focal length for photographing wildlife, but can you imagine that one focal length shifting how you view things, perhaps inspiring you to do a project built around that one lens? Thanks again for the great review! I look forward to seeing the upcoming X100F videos - and anything else too!
i’ve owned the x100, x100s, x100T, and now the x100F. I also own a Nikon D850 and love it. But you really nailed it in this review. I love shooting the x100F for exactly the reasons you so well illustrated. I love the film simulations. The other thing I really like is being able to set focus using the back button with the focus selector on M and then shoot away in continous mode. Great for getting shots of my grandaughter. For young people I like the Astia, for older folks I like the Chrome, and I love the Acros B&W. I have a qulity lens protection filter on and can’t even tell you where the lens cap is. This camera is always ready to go. You may want to cover the built in flash. For me this is a killer feature that isn’t mentioned enough. The sync speed is 1/2000 up to 1/4000. I tape a 1/4 CTO on the flash and dial in some -exp comp for a fantastic fill flash. Also this camera is great when you don’t want to draw attention from your “pro” DSLR gear. I find it to be very unobtrusive. It is also a conversation starter as some folks think it is a film camera. I shot a friends wedding with it, as a guest not paid. The images I shared from this camera were some of their favorites from the day. So yes, this camera has a place in my heart as well as my camera bag (though like you my x100F spends very little time in the bag). Also I think the x100T is very nearly as good a camera for less money. I would not have made this last upgrade, but a friend of mine made me an offer on my x100T that I couldn’t refuse.
It was a pleasure to watch/listen to these passionate thoughts about the x100f! Great video! I bought a Fujifilm x10 7 years ago when I truly wanted to have a x100. Now I‘m trying to get back into photography and just bought a x100s on ebay - super excited!
I just discovered you today and subscribed. You have a remarkably uplifting style, voice, presence, and demeanor. It's very refreshing. Thank you for doing what you do. You've sold me on the X-100F as well by the way. :)
Sorry my previous answer. I think you answer that on the video (English is difficult to me). I was an analog photographer and I never feel very comfortable with digital photography. I’ve chose Fuji x100f because with all those dials reminds my old Olympus OM2. I love to shoot photographs, see the real things throw the viewfinder, change film simulations mode (love Acros), but I don’t feel confortable processing the images on the computer. Everybody tells me “don’t shoot JPGs only; you have to shoot also in RAW”. But I like to use sometimes the digital zoom to take some portraits. I could buy the TCL adapter but think it will be bulk; I like to have my camera in a small bag, ready to shoot. I like to hear you saying you have to decide the look of the photo at the moment of shoot, like in the past times! Your video makes me think to shoot only in JPG and use the digital zoom in the Camara instead on the computer. Thanks, again.
This is one of my favorite reviews not only of yours but of all the ones I've seen. You really made this one feel like I was standing there having a conversation with you about a new camera you were excited about. I've gotten new equipment all the time and not exactly felt like that. Think I'm going to order this camera right away and then sell all my Nikon stuff after
I did also and love the xt20 !! But i still look at the x100f !! Its so Nice and i think i will love it to ! And now there is the amazing xt 3 !! O my god !!
I wish I had not sold my X100. I find lugging my dslr and tripod around, whilst out walking, is too much for me these days. I'm seriously considering selling it all and buying an X100F. I was blown away with the X100. The image quality was superb and I loved the integrated ND filter. Lovely video by the way :)
Wow, how timely! I got tired waiting for a delivery date for the Nikon fc I ordered and canceled that order and bought a "like new" x100f from kEH. It arrives Wednesday, NOT next year some time. Will still use my Z6ii/14-30S lens for real estate listings (my main focus), but the x100f will be my "street photography" and walkaround everyday camera. I look forward to many more of your videos on this camera, "SnapChick!" Thanks so much, as always....
I really enjoy the way you focus this video more on the experience. It tells so much more than specs and data. I also think you just confirmed that this is the camera I’ve been search for. Thanks 🙏
Probably my favourite camera. Love the style, the dials, and the image quality is absolutely amazing. The film simulations are incredible too. Modern tech in an old school, very compact design.
Exactly! Your review captures the essence of this camera, that it has re-introduced FUN back into the experience of making images. So many digital cameras amount to just a computer with a piece of glass on the front. That's a shame for there is so much more to image making, as Fuji has so aptly demonstrates with the X100f camera. Will the 100f do everything, of course not. Nor will any other camera. But what the 100f does do, it does very well indeed. For those of us who's baseline photographic experience predates the digital era, the 100f is a joy to behold.
Great video about a great camera! I carry one of these around with me everywhere and use its “big brother”, the X-Pro 2, for serious work. A not so well-known gem about the X-100 series is its leaf shutter which will sync with the built-in flash or *any* old cheap external flash to really high speeds without having to do the “pulsing thing” that is usually required (and which severely limits the power of the flash). Add in a physical ND filter to allow you to shoot wide open in bright conditions (and help increase the flash sync) and you’ve got something you physically *cannot do* on most other cameras. :)
It all depends on what your serious work is. If it involves physically keeping out of the way but being able to get great closeups (to pick one example) then, no. But if your work matches the features of the camera then *absolutely*.
X100F is the camera left in my document bag all the time. I love its B/W film simulation mode. It's a digital Leica M3 plus 35mm, 50 and 70mm lenses for me.
Absolutely loved your review that I just saw now. Absolutely perfect your approach to the camera. Always shooting with Nikon sinc, e film eraand became absolutely in love with the Fuji system because is all like you said, for me was like bringing the old film Nikon feeling to the digital era. Got an XT3 and getting this week the X100F
Fuji has it right for that throwback feel out of all camera manufacturers , as many have said "it has gotten me back or re interested in phography" as always great video and information
Aesthetically the little Fuji metal dials and case have the look of a 1950s Leica. I have the xt 2 with the same finish, naturally it doesn't make a dot of difference to the images that come out of the camera , but somehow having something in my hand that feels exquisite to the touch really adds to the experience. When that little camera becomes outdated, it will still look great sitting there on the shelf.
I shoot with a D500 but have been thinking seriously about adding the x100f to my gear for all of the reasons that you are enjoying it so much. I'm taking the timing of your post of this review as a sign from the universe to buy it. I was looking over info from Fuji on it and you can actually set it to save 3 film sims of your shots. So you can get a color and a black & white version of the shot without having to shoot RAW if you didn't want to. (I almost hesitate to tell you this, you seemed to be enjoying committing to one look!) .
Excellent balanced and informative video. I recently purchased a Canon EOS 6D Mark II plus 24 - 105 mm lens. I couldn’t believe the weight of it! As it was my first foray into full frame, I freely admit that I might have made a mistake. I used to shoot with a Yashica Electro GTN and never had a problem with it at all. Now realising that the majority of my photos are at the 24/35 mm end of the scale, this video has made me question the wisdom of the Canon purchase. Many thanks.
This camera is always in my bag together with my DSLR's. People tend to look at this camera more like an old film camera and do not bother when using this camera. It is a different story when you have a DSLR with a big lens. I like this camera for some reception shots. The quality of the images is great.
I rented the x100f for a week and was woowed by it for many of the “fun and engaging” reasons you mention. But longer term, i thought the fixed 35mm equivalent lens would feel limiting. So i bought the fujixe-3, 18-55 kit and wide and long zoom lenses. Long story short, it annoyed the heck out of me, and i’ve sold it. But i am considering buying the x100f. Like you note, its whole experience is much greater than the sum of its parts/features. The much more shallow depth of the lens makes it much easier to carry in a jacket pocket. Fuji’s jpegs are just really impressive. The film simulations are actually very useable and, like with acros, downright awesome. Having direct button means for settings rather than swiping like on xe-3. And i do find myself appreciating and using the ability to opt for either optical and digital view finders. And the leaf shutter and option for silent shutter comes in handy more than i would have thought. I do Hate the squgglies one sees in fine details of forest leaves, grasses and other such shapes (hard edges of straight lines like buildings doesn’t seem to be a problem with the raw files). So, it won’t become a nature landscape camera for me. But for out of the house and what do i grab?.. it calls to you, let’s go play and make some images!
I don't know about the X100F, but on other Fujifilm cameras, if you set it to Raw+Jpeg, while reviewing a photo, if you press the Q button, it will allow you to adjust the settings in the JPEG rendering engine and then rerender the JPEG like you can do with the software but without the need for the computer.
Left the Nikon DSLR world, after experiencing the flat-out joy of shooting with Fuji. As an intermediate enthusiast, I found it much easier to achieve creative work with the access of direct controls than the deep menuing (what SnapChick calls the "computer" experience). Free firmware updates have added incredible useful functionality to my Fuji gear (I now roll with a more full-featured XT-2). Great review here, focusing (like Fuji) on what is really important - at the end of the day: the shooting creative experience of the photographer! Props!
Thank you for sharing how you use the camera, and how it fits into your day to day! I picked this beauty up last year. I also was in the same boat... My D500 is a beast and with a grip, carrying it all day is not ideal. The X100f has the heart of the Xt-2 and so much more. The built in ND filter, the hybrid viewfinder, the leaf shutter that allows you to shoot past normal sync speeds even with flashes that don't support HSS there are so many features that I'm still learning about as I use it more. Street, travel, landscape, and my favorite: Portrait...this camera can handle anything you throw at it. Worth. Every. Penny!
rotvonrat to each their own opinion. Perhaps I should clarify that in comparison to carrying around my X100f, it is larger and bulkier. Also who's to say a person needs or does not need a grip? It's all personal preference. I shoot events and performances and the last thing I want to worry about is missing a shot because I have to swap out a battery...and while it's not the longest of changes, if it happens at a crucial moment it could mean not getting the shot. With my D500, grip and a 70-200mm 2.8 it's not the lightest of combos. I found that when I was going out for lesuire and shooting with all that gear, It was cumbersome. My main reason for picking up the X100f was to have an all day camera with me with capabilities/features comparable to my other gear without it weighing me down.
Well you come with a statement that is not true, not me. You do not have to worry about running out of energy on a D500 (you never used one?), and that stupid comparison of that lense will obviously weigh a little on any camera. The D500 is a very handy camera and not a bad word said about Fuji.
Only review anyone will ever need of the X100F. Great job passing on this obscure feeling of quality and simplicity that this camera sheds on you when you pick it up.
Thanks so much for a very insightful review of the X100f. I have had mine for almost a year and it is a special camera. There is just a feeling you have when using it. Like you said, this camera just draws you in.
Bravo! Great review! I've been using it since it came out and I agree 100% with how you feel about the camera. For me, it is about the quality of the jpgs, the film profiles, being able to finely adjust lights, shadows, even grain! Then there's the silent shutter, the view finder, the manual controls. It is definitely one of the most enjoyable cameras I've ever used, if not the most.
I still use the original X100. Doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the F but I still love it. A simple camera with great image quality. Great camera for flash work with the flash commander setting. It’s a joy to use.
love your video. I work with a big DSLR and a medium format camera, and I still take the x-100 f in my purse almost every day. It's a camera I enjoy so much... thank you :)
Ditto everything you said except I’ve been shooting the Fuji X70 the last two months instead of my full frame Sony cameras, except when absolutely necessary. Wish the X100F had the tilting touchscreen like the X70, but may check it out anyhow for the longer focal length, faster lens, and bump in sensor size. However, the X70 has made me fall in love with photography all over again...
The best, most articulate overview I 've seen yet for this gem of a camera, and on how liberating and addicting it is to use. The main thing holding me back from buying one are reviews that the X100 23mm lens is somewhat soft, especially wide open and close up. for landscapes, and extended portraits, how do you feel this lens compares in sharpness and micro contrast with your Nikon 35mm FF lenses? I'd love also to hear your findings on the two conversion lenses, particularly the WCL (28mm equiv.) for landscapes. At this price point, I want a sharp lens. I love your reviewing style and smart perspectives.
Sold! I miss shooting on a small, compact mirrorless camera; it was just always ready to shoot. I could easily fall in love with this camera. There's something to be said about loving the process of photography, instead of the final result. I would definitely enjoy my day more with a camera like this, harkening back to the "sunny 16" days. Sad about the Nikon Df, "If falling in love with a camera is wrong, I don't want to be right." Fuji certainly changes the quality debate of FF vs APS-C (I guess the D500 does too). This review has everything you need to know, as far as usability and professional results! (thanks for not just reading stats from a website, aka most of youtube).
I picked up the X70 a few months and I love it. I use the articulating screen a lot (which I believe the x100f lacks). However at 28mm equiv and just 16MP, a lot of my cropped photos end up with very few pixels. It's a real shame Fuji aren't planning a successor to the X70 (that I'm aware of).
Jed I ended up going with an fujifilm xf10. Found it used for half on adorama. It’s my first real camera so I have room to grow and see what I like vs don’t in it. So far I’m pretty happy with it.
I share your affection for the x100F. Lets me concentrate on the photo not the equipment but I know the equipment is solid and will deliver. I do use the TCL for portraits/headshots because the 35mm is too wide and distorts ( a little)
Great no-nonsense video with feeling. I'm shooting an X-T2 here in north central AZ. I love the Fujifilm systems. I've been looking at the X100F for my GF to use. She has a good eye but too much tech baffles her sometimes. The X100F reduces the complexity with auto-auto or straight forward aperture/shutter control. Being familiar with the X-T2 and all of its capabilities, even I like the simple race-car concept of the X100F. I also came from a Nikon (F & F3) pre-DSLR background. As a San Diego county resident for nearly 50 years, I've shot in the same locations with my Nikons as you. Your digital photos are better than I made with film. My Fujifilm cameras produce better results overall without the weight and size of a DSLR plus lenses.
I cannot agree more with you. I've always been a prosumer of Canon cameras and lenses, carrying with me more than 10Kg of gears everywhere around the world to take pictures of the moment but I had the mindset of "This picture will look great after applying this changes on my computer", so my pictures were never ready without going through my post-processing. I got a recommendation from friend of mine and also professional photographer, who said to me: "If I was you I will use Fuji XT-1", and give it a try to the just released Fuji XT-2 and since then a lot of things changes. - Sold all my Canon stuff - Bought Fuji XT-2 with 3 primes f/2 - No more RAW, only JPEG shooting - Switched from Lightroom/Photoshop on a laptop to Polarr on an iPad I'm feeling like I'm back to old days where I was enjoying shooting, simple and straight shooting. Thanks for that video :D
i just got my first Fujifilm camera last month after spending 3+ years with Sony A7ii , the Xpro2 and i'm in love with it , still experiment with the camera but i discover from last week that if you set the "image quality" to F+RAW you can create new film simulation in camera after the picture was taken by click "Q" button when you preview the image just like with the X RAW Studio.
The world of Fujifilm, feels like coming home after using Nikon APS-C, FF and then m4/3 for years. Now I have the X-T2 since a year and it's perfect for me as my prio is fun to use and great image quality. Especially with the primes, 16, 23, 35, 50.
Great review! :-) Welcome to the Fuji experience! I loved how you conveyed your passion and enthusiasm for this "gem" as you called it. It's just bewitching, I love mine and honestly it has changed my approach to photography and the way I shoot. I had the X100T and it was brilliant, but the "F" now takes an exceptional concept even further. There is a lot said about how Fuji has "Soul", and it truly does. Glad that you are experiencing it, and sharing it with others... looking forward to more videos about this camera and your experiences. :-)
The more I watched your video, the more you convinced that I shall be selling my DSLR kit. I love the retro style and that old school feel to photography. Fuji have made a stunning camera, with amazing spec, yet have produced a product that allows you to get on with taking pictures. Not how many lenses should I take, how much do I need to zoom in or out, and can I carry all that weight. After many years of taking pictures, I feel now is the time to go back to the fun of photography. After all some of the best all time classic pictures, were taken on a fixed lens camera. The new Fuji X100V will be out soon, I can't wait to get my hands on one.
I have been away from my Fuji X100f for a while now and was feeling bad about my neglected child sitting on the shelf. I was using your review to remind me of how to use this little beauty and found your comments helpful in stimulating old brain muscles. BUT............BUT........... you neglected something in your review and I hope it was only a lapse in memory on your part, but this camera really shines shooting black and white. I have taken some of all time images either colour or black and white, shooting only in B&W. I have found a short one minute video for you with suggested settings for your X100f, giving you high contrast photographs. One of my all time favourites was using the settings in the linked video. I leaned against a light post shooting in the dark of a food market all lit up for its evening customers, the lean to provide more stability for a cleaner image. The results............ fantastico!! Shoot in black and white: ua-cam.com/video/k2GH3b-vN60/v-deo.html
Classic features, well build, silent shutter. There are many reasons to love a camera made for a specific job. I miss that sometimes. Just a camera made for a very specific job. Good at it too!
Really silent shuttter. I picked mine up used and snapped a couple in the shop. It was so quiet I assume it was in ES. It wasn't, it was just that quiet. Then I got home and realized that the fake shutter sound was turned on! This thing is a ghost.
Great review, great inspiration. I also find that a few “rules”, makes it so much more inspiring to take good shots. My rule is, straight out of camera, no changes later (except a little croping later sometimes). So what I shoot is what I get. Its has completely changed my life as a photographer. So much more fun, so much more creativity. The fun factor, with a few “rules” and a great Fuji camera changed the game :-)
I had the X100, X100S and now I have the X100F. It is the camera that I carry with me by default. I do not use it for my birding, but it is a wonderful general purpose camera for reasons that you have covered well. I shoot jpegs. Great review!
Got the original x100 recently and love it. Had a Sony x100 and liked it, but as you said I felt it was like a computer, nothing that connected with me. The Fuji is more intuitive and natural.
Loved your review. To me you described very well the relationship (and emotion) between human and camera, which Fuji more than any other camera company successfully captures.
I like your presentation simple yet very informative. Thanks for sharing. I used the film camera Canon 7S in the 70s. This X100F remind me of my Canon days.
wow you're promising exactly what I'm hoping to get from this (actually any) camera. I also have a love/hate relationship with raw, it's great you can do so much with it, but that also means there are many many different versions of possible images in one image all you need is a few clicks and there is a completely different image. just a few clicks. with negative film at least it is a few minutes and another sheet of paper if you want to change the contrast, so it doesn't feel so overwhelming, it doesn't feel like you are never really finished with your image. I think I really should give the x100f a try!
I bought an X100F for it's size and instinctive analog style controls. The purpose that it fills for me is so I that can always have a camera with me no matter what I'm actually doing. I usually just keep it in Acros simulation mode which is superb. This camera even made a pretty decent accounting of it's self during a fast moving political rally.
great review!! been having my eye on X100F for a while now. I feel like the Fuji system is what makes the entire experience more fun along with an organic feel to it.
I shot Nikon exclusively for 30 years - starting with an F3 and ending with D4s. While still shooting D4s, I picked up X100t for same reason you did (something small to keep in my briefcase and use every now and then). I instantly fell in love and found that "every now and then" was becoming more like "most of the time." Ultimately, I picked up an x-pro2 and some Fuji lenses and upgraded to X100f when it was released. About a year ago, I sold most of my Nikon gear and now exclusively shoot Fuji. The x100 line is Fuji's gateway drug for many of us! It's a masterpiece.
I fully agree, Rick, it IS a masterpiece.
I shoot the XT2 and will upgrade to XT3...I know there are more advanced cameras but I just love the manual feel....never want to use a computer in the field.
pretty much my story exactly
I have just traded in my Nikon DF and most of the lenses, apart from those on my F3 and F4, and acquired an new X100F (and change), excited to start making images again, and to relieving the pain in my back ;)
Helpful review thank you
Funny, I did the exact same journey. Nikon, D3, D600 and bunch of lenses. Bought an X100S. Now I have the X100F and an X-E3 and a few lenses.
Just picked up my new X100F & i absolutely love it & i have sold all my DSLR stuff including all my lenses & zooms.
I get why you love this camera but is it a good idea to give up your DSLR and zoom lenses completely? You may find yourself needing a longer focal length some day. This camera is good to have alongside a DSLR for those times when you want to go casual.
The original x100 was not only my gateway drug into the Fuji X system, but even brought me back into photography altogether, which I had given up on, because of so many reasons you mentioned.
There are too many you tube channels reviewing stuff with little or no personal experience of using the camera they are reviewing. Your comprehensive "user reviews" are brilliant. Make no mistake you are ahead of the pack with these hands on reviews, thank you
A review by a real person, not a geek or goof. Refreshing, isn't it?
This is one of the best reviews I've ever heard of anything. Thanks!
I initially bought a used X100T off eBay as I was going on holiday outside the EU and my camera insurance didn't cover my gear outside the EU. I spent a month abroad with only the X100T and absolutely fell in love with it. I then bought the X100F when it was released. I have 3 professional Canon DSLR bodies and have owned several more over the years, and I can honestly say that of all the camera's I've used in 24 years of photography that the X100F is my favourite ever camera.
I've been watching Fuji reviews all month and this was the first one that hinted at the camera magic that people can't seem to get away. Thank you for keeping it real.
I was in the store the other day trying the x100F, and fell in love instantly. And I've been a Canon man for 10 years. I'm glad I found your channel. Lovely review, right to the point, no bullshit. You've earned a new subscriber :)
This is one of the best reviews of this camera. It is certainly the most useful in terms of information about the ins and outs of it and how it works. Thanks for the great review!
x100f is so amazing. It has helped me regain my love of taking images for me. I find the Film simulations very interesting.
I'm thinking of getting the x100f and have been watching numerous videos on YT. I must say, yours is without a shadow of a doubt, the BEST video on this camera that I've watched. You covered everything. I'm almost certain I'm going to get it on account of your warm, we'll spoken video. Thank you so much. Am a new fan. Subscribed. Hope you're well and staying safe.
Great Video, thanks. I own the X100F and have since it was first made available to the public, here in Canada. What I can say is that it provides for a very liberating experience, and forces you to actually see what it is you are capturing. No worrying about what lens to have on the body, or where to ‘zoom’ to. there is a wonderful intimacy in it’s use that frees you to enjoy what you are doing.
Quality of images are fantastic, as is the customization of the controls. I would strongly recommend purchasing an aftermarket lens hood and filter, that also permits you to use a regular squeeze type lens cap. The Fuji supplied ‘slip-on’ lens cover is a real disappointment, given the rest of the camera. Another useful add on is a screw in concave shutter release button that just cradles your finger tip and finishes the shooting experience.
I come from a background in shooting medium format film, 35mm film and then digital. I’ve now gone fully mirrorless with a Panasonic Lumix system with lenses, as well as the Fuji X100 and another smaller Fuji mirrorless (X10). Believe me, I am not looking back. No regrets about quality, or size, or cost or weight.
Try the X100F and it’s sensible placement of camera controls, and you will be amazingly pleased and happy about your purchase.
I absolutely love my X100F, I was lucky enough to receive it as a 50th birthday gift last September and I can honestly say that I have carried it every single day since. It is hands down the best camera experience I have had. If you are on the fence I would urge you to go out and get it. Great review, totally concur with every word. Really looking forward to more in the series.
Welcome to "Fuji Magic". I was shooting with a Nikon D800E. I took the Nikon and the Fuji XT-1 on a workshop. I started the workshop shooting with the Nikon because I was familiar with it. Halfway through, I picked up the Fuji and didn't put it back down. Full frame and 36MP be damned! I realized I was a different photographer with the Fuji. I kept the Nikon gear for a while, until my internal muse said it was time to set the artist in me free.
i give her till 2019. she will go to fujifilm all in. These cameras are fantastic to work with. You just want to go and shoot more with them. :)
Thanks. Great overview! I’m moving from my UA-cam right now to my Firefox to order one of these. I’m am tired, if not exhausted, from pieces of electronics and complicated softwares that have made me a lesser photographer and more of a computer geek. I’m moving to this camera plus a handful of iPad apps and that’s it. I have realized that simpler is better, better photography and this seems to be the camera for me. Thanks for hitting the spot with this review. Cheers.
Purchased a Fuji X100S a few years ago and love it. Something you can’t do with your DSLR - use the built -in ND filter, wide aperture and flash, it has a leaf shutter so it can synch at very fast shutter speed - produces great images with minimal DoF and separation from background.
It's that leaf shutter which keeps me itching to get one to play with - balancing daylight with simple speedlights, but without the need for power-robbing HSS!
Try it out, it's amazing - just back from traveling with a 2 battery mini flash able to overpower the sunlight!
I have Fuji x100t,back to basics. Is all about the photographers eye. B&W forever!!!!!!!!!
You sound so passionate talking about this camera. I've been looking at reviews because I am interested in making this my personal use camera as well and I think your review just pushed it over the edge for me. Definitely want to buy this now :).
Soooo glad you said you will be doing additional videos on this camera. It is my first camera and I'm looking forward to learning how to use it; I find it easier to learn something new with some guidance! I would love for you to make a video covering "basic" settings so a beginner like me has somewhere to start.
I really love this camera. I never leave the house without it!
I have been using a X100 since 2012 and have put much thought into upgrading to the X100F. This video has convinced me to take the plunge, can’t wait for my local dealer to open.
Thank you for this excellent review! You got me over the edge and I finally decided to order a used X100F with just above 1000 exposures taken for around 650 $ here in Sweden. I've for some time kept looking for a more lightweight companion on my mountain hikes, than my Canon EOS 6D with all that glass weight of my L-lenses. I'm old enough to have spent thousands of hours in the dark room while using my 35mm film Pentax equipment in my youth. I'm pretty confident I will love the Fuji X100F with its old school design! Great review!
Hi - this a great post and it is refreshing to hear someone speak about 'using' the camera. Using a Fujifim camera is all about the experience - using my X-T2, I can go all day and never go into the menus. Its all dials, aperture, shutter speed, ISO - look, decide, adjust, shoot - and you can go with the confidence that your images are going to be sharp and deep and clear.
And I can't wait to get an X100F. I love the rangefinder format.
Great post. Thank you.
The X-100 series are amazing. I had the S version and I just purchased the F version. If someone ask me to explain why I chose the X-100F, I would direct them to this video. Like me, SnapChick leans more to the purist side of camera functionality. The option of having direct control of the camera like the old days but also having the latest technology that truly makes the camera a more useful creative tool. Her explanation of this camera was truly one of a person of knowledge and enthusiasm. Her presentation could not be bettered. Thanks.
Thanks for that very informative video. I stumbled on this almost 12 months later whilst trying to decide what "second" camera to buy to compliment my much loved Fuji XT3. I was wavering between the XT20 and the newly released XT30 which is supposed to be the baby brother to the XT3. However, your description of the X100F has shaken everything up somewhat!! I was sold by the camera features and by the very articulate way you put this all across.......my only issue that still bothers me is having just a 35mm equivalent lens. I will be using the 2nd camera as a grab and go just to use as and when the opportunity arises. I am now in a quandry!!! I think I will watch your other more in depth reviews on this camera. Many thanks again, you have a new subscriber!!
My xe-1 is glued to this cheap adapted manual cctv 25mm f1.4, i used it for my everyday fun/street/architecture photos. It's really great. I
I think that feeling is similar when i tried the x100f. The difference is just the autofocus motor.. but i like manual focus, it slows me down, makes me think more before shoot
The 23mm F2 works very well on th XE-1...
thats so true. I still love my X-E1 too. Attached with the XF35mm f2 or old analog lenses. Its simply and great. :)
I got one of these and actually got the black version. Your review is very nice when compared with all the other reviews on this X100F, because you talk about the controls and what you are comfortable with and you explain why. Over the years I have moved away from my old film habits of prioritizing the shutter speed, being concerned with shake. While this doesn't have any sort of steady mechanism, I must remember that the ISO controls which allow pushing the sensor far more than saying pushing Tri-X, for example, while still getting an image with "lots of silver" still on the, "negative." I edit only with simple editing, at least up to this point. Managing the depth of focus and/or the depth of field has become more important to me in controlling the image and I think you made the point so that when I take my camera out and shoot with it the firs time, I already know where to start from: aperture priority. Thanks for this sort of organic review of this camera. AF
I loved my x100s, I sold it to get the A7r2 and sony lenses....after a while I got the x-t2 and it has some beautiful lenses. There is something with Fuji pictures and controls that is just so right, hard to describe. I love the classic chrome jpg, no editing needed.
Great review. As someone who started off my photography journey shooting slide film, Kodachrome 64, Fuji has reignited my passion for photography in a way that no other digital camera has done. Having a fixed focal length camera has been very liberating for me in how I approach photographing a subject. This camera is truly a gem.
A really nice, thoughtful review and your excitement over the camera is making me feel kinda excited all over again over my X100F. First time I've seen one of your videos I think, I like the cut of your jib. So, questions and thoughts...
It'd be cool to hear you talk about the film simulations, a round-up as to their looks, what situations you find yourself pairing them with, which one you find yourself reaching for most...
A piece on the built in flash, how it works for a bit of fill-light in outdoor portraits, or for grungy 1980's style punk portraits. Myself I use mine quite often on the dance floor at punk, rock and indie clubs! Also a bit on the ridiculously high sync speed you get with that oh-so-silent leaf shutter.
Finally the creative benefits of sticking to one focal length. I actually have the wide angle converter on mine most of time when out and about, as I like the Garry Winogrand 28mm kind of focal length view, especially with black and white. Are there any photographers who stick to a single focal length who you love? Annie Liebowitz is a great believer in 35mm focal lengths, Alex Webb swears by it. It's quite often the choice for Magnum documentary photographers. Do you feel there's an added strength in having that one unifying element in a body of work? I know it's not the focal length for photographing wildlife, but can you imagine that one focal length shifting how you view things, perhaps inspiring you to do a project built around that one lens?
Thanks again for the great review! I look forward to seeing the upcoming X100F videos - and anything else too!
Fujifilm cameras brings you back into photography and keep you away from damn Photoshop. Great review!
Excellent observation. I now never use any post production software. I want what I see and not what Photoshop lets me have.
i’ve owned the x100, x100s, x100T, and now the x100F. I also own a Nikon D850 and love it. But you really nailed it in this review. I love shooting the x100F for exactly the reasons you so well illustrated. I love the film simulations.
The other thing I really like is being able to set focus using the back button with the focus selector on M and then shoot away in continous mode. Great for getting shots of my grandaughter.
For young people I like the Astia, for older folks I like the Chrome, and I love the Acros B&W.
I have a qulity lens protection filter on and can’t even tell you where the lens cap is. This camera is always ready to go.
You may want to cover the built in flash. For me this is a killer feature that isn’t mentioned enough. The sync speed is 1/2000 up to 1/4000. I tape a 1/4 CTO on the flash and dial in some -exp comp for a fantastic fill flash.
Also this camera is great when you don’t want to draw attention from your “pro” DSLR gear. I find it to be very unobtrusive. It is also a conversation starter as some folks think it is a film camera.
I shot a friends wedding with it, as a guest not paid. The images I shared from this camera were some of their favorites from the day.
So yes, this camera has a place in my heart as well as my camera bag (though like you my x100F spends very little time in the bag).
Also I think the x100T is very nearly as good a camera for less money. I would not have made this last upgrade, but a friend of mine made me an offer on my x100T that I couldn’t refuse.
It was a pleasure to watch/listen to these passionate thoughts about the x100f! Great video!
I bought a Fujifilm x10 7 years ago when I truly wanted to have a x100. Now I‘m trying to get back into photography and just bought a x100s on ebay - super excited!
I just discovered you today and subscribed. You have a remarkably uplifting style, voice, presence, and demeanor. It's very refreshing. Thank you for doing what you do. You've sold me on the X-100F as well by the way. :)
Leaf shutter for high speed sync is incredible with this camera. Try it and see.
Sorry my previous answer. I think you answer that on the video (English is difficult to me). I was an analog photographer and I never feel very comfortable with digital photography. I’ve chose Fuji x100f because with all those dials reminds my old Olympus OM2. I love to shoot photographs, see the real things throw the viewfinder, change film simulations mode (love Acros), but I don’t feel confortable processing the images on the computer. Everybody tells me “don’t shoot JPGs only; you have to shoot also in RAW”. But I like to use sometimes the digital zoom to take some portraits. I could buy the TCL adapter but think it will be bulk; I like to have my camera in a small bag, ready to shoot. I like to hear you saying you have to decide the look of the photo at the moment of shoot, like in the past times! Your video makes me think to shoot only in JPG and use the digital zoom in the Camara instead on the computer. Thanks, again.
This is one of my favorite reviews not only of yours but of all the ones I've seen. You really made this one feel like I was standing there having a conversation with you about a new camera you were excited about. I've gotten new equipment all the time and not exactly felt like that. Think I'm going to order this camera right away and then sell all my Nikon stuff after
Was super tempted by the x100f but went for the xt20 instead which I have absolutely adored.
Yeah you DID!! :)
Zing
I did also and love the xt20 !! But i still look at the x100f !! Its so Nice and i think i will love it to ! And now there is the amazing xt 3 !! O my god !!
I wish I had not sold my X100. I find lugging my dslr and tripod around, whilst out walking, is too much for me these days. I'm seriously considering selling it all and buying an X100F. I was blown away with the X100. The image quality was superb and I loved the integrated ND filter. Lovely video by the way :)
Wow, how timely! I got tired waiting for a delivery date for the Nikon fc I ordered and canceled that order and bought a "like new" x100f from kEH. It arrives Wednesday, NOT next year some time. Will still use my Z6ii/14-30S lens for real estate listings (my main focus), but the x100f will be my "street photography" and walkaround everyday camera. I look forward to many more of your videos on this camera, "SnapChick!" Thanks so much, as always....
I really enjoy the way you focus this video more on the experience. It tells so much more than specs and data.
I also think you just confirmed that this is the camera I’ve been search for. Thanks 🙏
Probably my favourite camera. Love the style, the dials, and the image quality is absolutely amazing. The film simulations are incredible too. Modern tech in an old school, very compact design.
This is what a review should be! Well done, thank you.
Exactly! Your review captures the essence of this camera, that it has re-introduced FUN back into the experience of making images. So many digital cameras amount to just a computer with a piece of glass on the front. That's a shame for there is so much more to image making, as Fuji has so aptly demonstrates with the X100f camera. Will the 100f do everything, of course not. Nor will any other camera. But what the 100f does do, it does very well indeed. For those of us who's baseline photographic experience predates the digital era, the 100f is a joy to behold.
Great video about a great camera! I carry one of these around with me everywhere and use its “big brother”, the X-Pro 2, for serious work. A not so well-known gem about the X-100 series is its leaf shutter which will sync with the built-in flash or *any* old cheap external flash to really high speeds without having to do the “pulsing thing” that is usually required (and which severely limits the power of the flash). Add in a physical ND filter to allow you to shoot wide open in bright conditions (and help increase the flash sync) and you’ve got something you physically *cannot do* on most other cameras. :)
Nick Milner and in body and filter.
do you feel like the x100f could be used for serious work? I bought it to be my main camera but people seem to use as a second camera
It all depends on what your serious work is. If it involves physically keeping out of the way but being able to get great closeups (to pick one example) then, no. But if your work matches the features of the camera then *absolutely*.
X100F is the camera left in my document bag all the time. I love its B/W film simulation mode. It's a digital Leica M3 plus 35mm, 50 and 70mm lenses for me.
Absolutely loved your review that I just saw now. Absolutely perfect your approach to the camera. Always shooting with Nikon sinc, e film eraand became absolutely in love with the Fuji system because is all like you said, for me was like bringing the old film Nikon feeling to the digital era. Got an XT3 and getting this week the X100F
Fuji has it right for that throwback feel out of all camera manufacturers , as many have said "it has gotten me back or
re interested in phography" as always great video and information
Aesthetically the little Fuji metal dials and case have the look of a 1950s Leica. I have the xt 2 with the same finish, naturally it doesn't make a dot of difference to the images that come out of the camera , but somehow having something in my hand that feels exquisite to the touch really adds to the experience. When that little camera becomes outdated, it will still look great sitting there on the shelf.
I shoot with a D500 but have been thinking seriously about adding the x100f to my gear for all of the reasons that you are enjoying it so much. I'm taking the timing of your post of this review as a sign from the universe to buy it. I was looking over info from Fuji on it and you can actually set it to save 3 film sims of your shots. So you can get a color and a black & white version of the shot without having to shoot RAW if you didn't want to. (I almost hesitate to tell you this, you seemed to be enjoying committing to one look!) .
Excellent balanced and informative video. I recently purchased a Canon EOS 6D Mark II plus 24 - 105 mm lens. I couldn’t believe the weight of it! As it was my first foray into full frame, I freely admit that I might have made a mistake. I used to shoot with a Yashica Electro GTN and never had a problem with it at all. Now realising that the majority of my photos are at the 24/35 mm end of the scale, this video has made me question the wisdom of the Canon purchase. Many thanks.
Literally the best hands on with this camera. I'm trying not to spend money but here I am.
This camera is always in my bag together with my DSLR's. People tend to look at this camera more like an old film camera and do not bother when using this camera. It is a different story when you have a DSLR with a big lens. I like this camera for some reception shots. The quality of the images is great.
Nice job. I've had this camera for about 6 months now and it's just incredible. Day to day incredible quality.
I rented the x100f for a week and was woowed by it for many of the “fun and engaging” reasons you mention. But longer term, i thought the fixed 35mm equivalent lens would feel limiting. So i bought the fujixe-3, 18-55 kit and wide and long zoom lenses. Long story short, it annoyed the heck out of me, and i’ve sold it. But i am considering buying the x100f. Like you note, its whole experience is much greater than the sum of its parts/features. The much more shallow depth of the lens makes it much easier to carry in a jacket pocket. Fuji’s jpegs are just really impressive. The film simulations are actually very useable and, like with acros, downright awesome. Having direct button means for settings rather than swiping like on xe-3. And i do find myself appreciating and using the ability to opt for either optical and digital view finders. And the leaf shutter and option for silent shutter comes in handy more than i would have thought. I do Hate the squgglies one sees in fine details of forest leaves, grasses and other such shapes (hard edges of straight lines like buildings doesn’t seem to be a problem with the raw files). So, it won’t become a nature landscape camera for me. But for out of the house and what do i grab?.. it calls to you, let’s go play and make some images!
Fantastic review! Will definitely be watching your channel in the future. Well done.
The more videos I watch about this camera, the more I like the sound of it! I think I might have to invest in one! I love your channel, by the way!
I don't know about the X100F, but on other Fujifilm cameras, if you set it to Raw+Jpeg, while reviewing a photo, if you press the Q button, it will allow you to adjust the settings in the JPEG rendering engine and then rerender the JPEG like you can do with the software but without the need for the computer.
this is the best x100f review I've seen thus far!!
Left the Nikon DSLR world, after experiencing the flat-out joy of shooting with Fuji. As an intermediate enthusiast, I found it much easier to achieve creative work with the access of direct controls than the deep menuing (what SnapChick calls the "computer" experience). Free firmware updates have added incredible useful functionality to my Fuji gear (I now roll with a more full-featured XT-2). Great review here, focusing (like Fuji) on what is really important - at the end of the day: the shooting creative experience of the photographer! Props!
Thank you for sharing how you use the camera, and how it fits into your day to day!
I picked this beauty up last year. I also was in the same boat... My D500 is a beast and with a grip, carrying it all day is not ideal. The X100f has the heart of the Xt-2 and so much more.
The built in ND filter, the hybrid viewfinder, the leaf shutter that allows you to shoot past normal sync speeds even with flashes that don't support HSS there are so many features that I'm still learning about as I use it more.
Street, travel, landscape, and my favorite: Portrait...this camera can handle anything you throw at it. Worth. Every. Penny!
the d500 is not a beast to carry around, and nobody needs a grip on it
rotvonrat to each their own opinion. Perhaps I should clarify that in comparison to carrying around my X100f, it is larger and bulkier.
Also who's to say a person needs or does not need a grip? It's all personal preference. I shoot events and performances and the last thing I want to worry about is missing a shot because I have to swap out a battery...and while it's not the longest of changes, if it happens at a crucial moment it could mean not getting the shot. With my D500, grip and a 70-200mm 2.8 it's not the lightest of combos.
I found that when I was going out for lesuire and shooting with all that gear, It was cumbersome. My main reason for picking up the X100f was to have an all day camera with me with capabilities/features comparable to my other gear without it weighing me down.
Well you come with a statement that is not true, not me. You do not have to worry about running out of energy on a D500 (you never used one?), and that stupid comparison of that lense will obviously weigh a little on any camera. The D500 is a very handy camera and not a bad word said about Fuji.
Only review anyone will ever need of the X100F. Great job passing on this obscure feeling of quality and simplicity that this camera sheds on you when you pick it up.
Thanks so much for a very insightful review of the X100f. I have had mine for almost a year and it is a special camera. There is just a feeling you have when using it. Like you said, this camera just draws you in.
Bravo! Great review! I've been using it since it came out and I agree 100% with how you feel about the camera.
For me, it is about the quality of the jpgs, the film profiles, being able to finely adjust lights, shadows, even grain! Then there's the silent shutter, the view finder, the manual controls.
It is definitely one of the most enjoyable cameras I've ever used, if not the most.
I still use the original X100. Doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the F but I still love it. A simple camera with great image quality. Great camera for flash work with the flash commander setting. It’s a joy to use.
This camera is the one that many years from now people will say, “I should have gotten one of those.”
A future collectors item.
love your video. I work with a big DSLR and a medium format camera, and I still take the x-100 f in my purse almost every day. It's a camera I enjoy so much... thank you :)
Ditto everything you said except I’ve been shooting the Fuji X70 the last two months instead of my full frame Sony cameras, except when absolutely necessary. Wish the X100F had the tilting touchscreen like the X70, but may check it out anyhow for the longer focal length, faster lens, and bump in sensor size. However, the X70 has made me fall in love with photography all over again...
Well done! Thanks. You express a lot of my sense and feelings about using Fujifilm X cameras in very articulate way.
This is the BEST hands on real user review on you tube and has persuaded me to buy it. Thank You
The best, most articulate overview I 've seen yet for this gem of a camera, and on how liberating and addicting it is to use. The main thing holding me back from buying one are reviews that the X100 23mm lens is somewhat soft, especially wide open and close up. for landscapes, and extended portraits, how do you feel this lens compares in sharpness and micro contrast with your Nikon 35mm FF lenses? I'd love also to hear your findings on the two conversion lenses, particularly the WCL (28mm equiv.) for landscapes. At this price point, I want a sharp lens. I love your reviewing style and smart perspectives.
Sold! I miss shooting on a small, compact mirrorless camera; it was just always ready to shoot. I could easily fall in love with this camera. There's something to be said about loving the process of photography, instead of the final result. I would definitely enjoy my day more with a camera like this, harkening back to the "sunny 16" days.
Sad about the Nikon Df, "If falling in love with a camera is wrong, I don't want to be right." Fuji certainly changes the quality debate of FF vs APS-C (I guess the D500 does too). This review has everything you need to know, as far as usability and professional results! (thanks for not just reading stats from a website, aka most of youtube).
I was debating between a Ricoh Gr II and Fuji X70, but I might save up a little longer for the x100f. This review was hype.
I picked up the X70 a few months and I love it. I use the articulating screen a lot (which I believe the x100f lacks). However at 28mm equiv and just 16MP, a lot of my cropped photos end up with very few pixels. It's a real shame Fuji aren't planning a successor to the X70 (that I'm aware of).
Jed I ended up going with an fujifilm xf10. Found it used for half on adorama. It’s my first real camera so I have room to grow and see what I like vs don’t in it. So far I’m pretty happy with it.
I share your affection for the x100F. Lets me concentrate on the photo not the equipment but I know the equipment is solid and will deliver. I do use the TCL for portraits/headshots because the 35mm is too wide and distorts ( a little)
Great no-nonsense video with feeling. I'm shooting an X-T2 here in north central AZ. I love the Fujifilm systems. I've been looking at the X100F for my GF to use. She has a good eye but too much tech baffles her sometimes. The X100F reduces the complexity with auto-auto or straight forward aperture/shutter control. Being familiar with the X-T2 and all of its capabilities, even I like the simple race-car concept of the X100F. I also came from a Nikon (F & F3) pre-DSLR background. As a San Diego county resident for nearly 50 years, I've shot in the same locations with my Nikons as you. Your digital photos are better than I made with film. My Fujifilm cameras produce better results overall without the weight and size of a DSLR plus lenses.
Leaf shutter and High speed sync for portraits with on and off camera flash.
It's funny, having shot Nikon for years, when I picked up a fuji, everything made sense. However, other brands take a while to get your head round.
Funnily enough Fuji used to make Nikon F mount DSLRs.
I cannot agree more with you. I've always been a prosumer of Canon cameras and lenses, carrying with me more than 10Kg of gears everywhere around the world to take pictures of the moment but I had the mindset of "This picture will look great after applying this changes on my computer", so my pictures were never ready without going through my post-processing.
I got a recommendation from friend of mine and also professional photographer, who said to me: "If I was you I will use Fuji XT-1", and give it a try to the just released Fuji XT-2 and since then a lot of things changes.
- Sold all my Canon stuff
- Bought Fuji XT-2 with 3 primes f/2
- No more RAW, only JPEG shooting
- Switched from Lightroom/Photoshop on a laptop to Polarr on an iPad
I'm feeling like I'm back to old days where I was enjoying shooting, simple and straight shooting.
Thanks for that video :D
Best review on the F100. Good and different points being made.
Well done!
i just got my first Fujifilm camera last month after spending 3+ years with Sony A7ii , the Xpro2 and i'm in love with it , still experiment with the camera but i discover from last week that if you set the "image quality" to F+RAW you can create new film simulation in camera after the picture was taken by click "Q" button when you preview the image just like with the X RAW Studio.
Really good video, you dived deeper into the different features the camera has and how you enjoy them compared to other videos. Thanks a lot!
The world of Fujifilm, feels like coming home after using Nikon APS-C, FF and then m4/3 for years. Now I have the X-T2 since a year and it's perfect for me as my prio is fun to use and great image quality. Especially with the primes, 16, 23, 35, 50.
Great review! :-)
Welcome to the Fuji experience!
I loved how you conveyed your passion and enthusiasm for this "gem" as you called it. It's just bewitching, I love mine and honestly it has changed my approach to photography and the way I shoot. I had the X100T and it was brilliant, but the "F" now takes an exceptional concept even further.
There is a lot said about how Fuji has "Soul", and it truly does. Glad that you are experiencing it, and sharing it with others... looking forward to more videos about this camera and your experiences. :-)
The more I watched your video, the more you convinced that I shall be selling my DSLR kit. I love the retro style and that old school feel to photography. Fuji have made a stunning camera, with amazing spec, yet have produced a product that allows you to get on with taking pictures. Not how many lenses should I take, how much do I need to zoom in or out, and can I carry all that weight. After many years of taking pictures, I feel now is the time to go back to the fun of photography. After all some of the best all time classic pictures, were taken on a fixed lens camera. The new Fuji X100V will be out soon, I can't wait to get my hands on one.
I have been away from my Fuji X100f for a while now and was feeling bad about my neglected child sitting on the shelf. I was using your review to remind me of how to use this little beauty and found your comments helpful in stimulating old brain muscles. BUT............BUT........... you neglected something in your review and I hope it was only a lapse in memory on your part, but this camera really shines shooting black and white. I have taken some of all time images either colour or black and white, shooting only in B&W. I have found a short one minute video for you with suggested settings for your X100f, giving you high contrast photographs. One of my all time favourites was using the settings in the linked video. I leaned against a light post shooting in the dark of a food market all lit up for its evening customers, the lean to provide more stability for a cleaner image. The results............ fantastico!! Shoot in black and white: ua-cam.com/video/k2GH3b-vN60/v-deo.html
Classic features, well build, silent shutter. There are many reasons to love a camera made for a specific job. I miss that sometimes.
Just a camera made for a very specific job. Good at it too!
Really silent shuttter. I picked mine up used and snapped a couple in the shop. It was so quiet I assume it was in ES. It wasn't, it was just that quiet. Then I got home and realized that the fake shutter sound was turned on! This thing is a ghost.
It's an amazing package. I couldn't part with my X100F at all. It's now part of my EDC. Everything in this camera screams quality.
Great review, great inspiration. I also find that a few “rules”, makes it so much more inspiring to take good shots. My rule is, straight out of camera, no changes later (except a little croping later sometimes). So what I shoot is what I get. Its has completely changed my life as a photographer. So much more fun, so much more creativity. The fun factor, with a few “rules” and a great Fuji camera changed the game :-)
I had the X100, X100S and now I have the X100F. It is the camera that I carry with me by default. I do not use it for my birding, but it is a wonderful general purpose camera for reasons that you have covered well. I shoot jpegs. Great review!
This is an absolutely great review. It really comes through that you _use_ it.
Thanks for sharing your impressions on Fujifilm X100F and the beautiful images of Balboa Park!
Got the original x100 recently and love it. Had a Sony x100 and liked it, but as you said I felt it was like a computer, nothing that connected with me. The Fuji is more intuitive and natural.
Loved your review. To me you described very well the relationship (and emotion) between human and camera, which Fuji more than any other camera company successfully captures.
I like your presentation simple yet very informative. Thanks for sharing. I used the film camera Canon 7S in the 70s. This X100F remind me of my Canon days.
wow you're promising exactly what I'm hoping to get from this (actually any) camera. I also have a love/hate relationship with raw, it's great you can do so much with it, but that also means there are many many different versions of possible images in one image all you need is a few clicks and there is a completely different image. just a few clicks. with negative film at least it is a few minutes and another sheet of paper if you want to change the contrast, so it doesn't feel so overwhelming, it doesn't feel like you are never really finished with your image. I think I really should give the x100f a try!
I bought an X100F for it's size and instinctive analog style controls. The purpose that it fills for me is so I that can always have a camera with me no matter what I'm actually doing. I usually just keep it in Acros simulation mode which is superb. This camera even made a pretty decent accounting of it's self during a fast moving political rally.
great review!! been having my eye on X100F for a while now. I feel like the Fuji system is what makes the entire experience more fun along with an organic feel to it.
Great review, the best I’ve seen on this camera!